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Royal
Castle at risk
English
Heritage has just published it's 2003 Buildings at Risk register.
Many of the buildings it says are in danger are bridges, monuments,
country houses or farms.
Few
of them are former royal residences. Our own Sheriff Hutton Castle
is the exception.
Sheriff
Hutton Castle is sited in a village of the same name, about 13 miles
north of York on a minor road off the A64.
The
castle, which is now in the grounds of a local farm, is a mere shadow
of its former self. There are only a few turrets and the corners
of the keep remaining.
A
noble pedigree
Once
it was a magnificent dwelling, of princely proportions,. A classic
quadrangle, with a magnificent hall.
Sheriff
Hutton is so named because it was once held by Bertram de Bulmer,
the Sheriff of York who died in 1166.
It
passed to the Neville family through marriage, and in 1382, John,
Lord Neville, secured a license to crenellate the walls (making
it a castle).
In
1425, the Neville estates were partitioned. The younger son retained
the title and the Durham estates and Richard Neville (the King-maker)
inherited the Yorkshire estates, including Sheriff Hutton Castle.
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Extensive
restoration work
(photo © English Heritage) |
On
the death of Richard Neville at the Battle of Barnet, his lands
were given to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, (later Richard III).
In
1484 it became one of the two headquarters of the Council of the
North (the other being at Sandal).
During
the 16th century, Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy lived
at Sheriff Hutton under the care of Cardinal Wolsey.
It
remained crown property until the death of Charles I.
The
years haven't been kind to this great building, and although it's
scale is still impressive, it has fallen to virtual ruin.
It's
been undergoing extensive repair, to try to save the fabric of the
remaining buildings, and make the castle safe.
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Sheriff Hutton Castle belonged to the English Royal families
of Plantagenet, Tudor and Stuart.
